Open Letter to Sir Stephen House
The injustice we face everyday is exhausting. Our children should be kept safe from harm in the places that are supposed to protect them. As parents, we feel deeply connected to Child Q and we need there to be more accountability for the perpetrators. More needs to be done to ensure this doesn’t happen again. The letter is signed and supported by various prominent Black men, women and organisations. We are awaiting a response from the Met Police. Read the article covering this letter here.
Dear Sir Stephen House,
We are writing to you as a group of Black women and men who are outraged at the recent news that a 15 year Black girl was stripped searched at her school by Metropolitan Police officers whilst menstruating. This intimate search occurred without an appropriate adult or teacher present after a teacher at her school alleged she smelt of cannabis. It was also suspected that she may have been carrying cannabis. Subsequently no drugs were found on her persons, however, even if drugs had been found, an intimate strip search of a child in this context, whilst on her period, without an appropriate adult or teacher present is inexcusable.
People from Black communities do not feel safe in the presence of the police nor do they have trust or faith that the police will treat people from these communities fairly and without bias.
This incident is yet another example of how racism is endemic within the Metropolitan Police and leads to Black men, women and children being assaulted and traumatised by the very people who are meant to protect us. As parents, we fear for the safety and wellbeing of our children knowing that racism, discrimination and bias affect their everyday life. Our children and this child should be safe at school, but they are not.
Trust in the Metropolitan Police from the Black community must be earned. This incident is yet another crush to our sense of freedom and security and we are collectively devastated for this child who has had to bear the brunt of the racism which runs rife through your police force and additionally the education system. We feel her pain and trauma throughout our community and we long for a day when Black people do not feel unsafe in your presence.
We are calling on you to take immediate and decisive action on this issue, to demonstrate and acknowledge that this behaviour is and was wholly unacceptable. The police officers involved must be held accountable for their actions and appropriate measures should be taken if they are still serving officers. An apology is not enough, we need to see tangible actions and repercussions for those involved.
We look forward to your response.
Atinuke Awe, Mums and Tea & Five X More
Clotilde Abe - Prosperitys & Five X More
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Sairah Pinnock - The Black Fund
Vanessa Kingori MBE
Ian Wright
Jodie Turner Smith
Shola Mos- Shogbamimu
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Rochelle Humes
Jamelia
Candice Carty Williams
Kehinde Andrews
Carina White - Black Mums Upfront,
Osha Daley- Pregnant then Screwed
Elliot Rae - Music, Fatherhood and Football
Ben Anderson - Diary of a Dad
Mandu Reid- Women’s Equality Party
Diane Abbott MP
Dawn Butler MP
Claudia Webbe MP
Marsha Decordova MP
Kate Osamor MP
Lisa Maffia
JN Benjamin - Writer and Broadcaster
Agnes Agyepong - GLOMAMA Awards
David McQueen
Emmanuel Asuquo - The Eman Effect
Raphael Sofoluke - UK Black Business Show
Marvyn Harrison - Dope Black Dads